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Naringin (4',5,7-Trihydroxyflavanone 7-Rhamnoglucoside) Attenuates β-Cell Dysfunction in Diabetic Rats through
Manickam Subramanian1, Balaji Thotakura2, Swathi Priyadarshini Chandra Sekaran2
1Department of Anatomy, Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Chennai, India, gandhiayu@hotmail.com.
Background:
Pancreatic duodenal homeobox-1 (PDX-1) is a key transcription factor which regulates Insulin gene expression and insulin secretion in adult β-cells and helps to maintain β-cells mass. Naringin, a flavanone, owing to its anti-oxidant property, is reported to have antidiabetic effects.
Objectives:
The present study tries to evaluate the role of naringin on the β-cell-specific transcription factor PDX-1 in diabetic rats.
Methods:
Diabetes was induced in male rats using streptozotocin and treated with naringin (100 mg/kg) orally for 4 and 8 weeks. Serum insulin level, Pdx-1 and Insulin gene expression, and PDX-1 protein expression were assessed in the rat pancreas. Histopathological and ultrastructural changes in the islet and β-cells were observed.
Results:
Naringin prevented leukocytic infiltration in the pancreas of diabetic rats and recouped the β-cells with adequate secretory granules. Naringin-treated diabetic rats showed significantly increased mRNA expression of Pdx-1 and Insulin genes, increased expression of transcription factor PDX-1, and higher serum insulin levels than the diabetic control animals. These changes were more pronounced in the 8-week naringin-treated diabetic animals.
Conclusions:
Naringin was found to be an effective antidiabetic agent which increased Insulin gene expression and insulin secretion by upregulating the PDX-1 gene and protein expression.